| November 2, 1994

The Other Press

 

Our college's good on display in Country

‘The DC Theatre Department is currently preparing two November shows. We look at one of them, entitled Our Countr/s Good.

   

‘By Paul Andrew

When I was looking for material to
do a preview for Our Country’s Good,
the first production of the Douglas
College Theatre Department's 1994-95
| season, I was lucky enough to have a
very enthusiastic director to turn to for
background material.

Allan Lysell, the director of this
play, strikes me as the kind of person
: who takes a genuine interest in his work.
Hopefully, that is an indication that his
| play will not just.be acted out in a
mechanical type fashion, but that it will
have the stamp of the director’s
personality on it.

Our Country’s Good, a play by
“Timberlake Wertenbaker, is
essentially a story regarding the plight
of 18th century prisoners, sent from
| England to Australia to establish a penal

| by Jason Kurylo & Trent Ernst

Hold on to your period pieces,
folks, because Blackadder is about to
| invade the Vancouver East Cultural
Centre.

No, Rowan Atkinson is not

planning a military strike on the Cultch.
But, for Blackadder fans and fanatics
alike, this is just as exciting. Live and
on stage, Blackadder hits the VECC for
a two-week stint starting November 22.

This is the only production of its
kind in North America. Atkinson simply
hasn’t granted anyone else permission
- to do it.
This production of Blackadder ran
last fall at the Deep Cove Shaw Theatre
_ to rave reviews, kudos tossing, and
| proposals of marriage.

This year, they’ve moved to the
larger venue, to satisfy public demand.
(It should be noted that partial proceeds
from the Deep Cove production went
* to the CKNW Orphan’s Fund, and

colony. Of course, England also sent
their own contingent of Navy and
Marine officers to deal with the
prisoners once the colony was
established.

The penal colony soon lost all
regard for moral and civil conduct, and
the abuse of the prisoner’s basic rights
were violated on a regular basis.
Physical violence and prostitution were
rampant within the colony.

As a means of restoring order within
the colony, a junior officer, one
Lieutenant Ralph Clarke, put on a play.
Our Country’s Good is the story of the
production of that play, which is titled,
The Recruiting Officer, a period comedy
by George Farquhar.

Now the story becomes a “play
within a play,” and that is where the
original title comes from. One of the
convicts writes a new prologue for the

similar plans are presently being made
for this run.)

Now, some of you may be
wondering, “how the heck can someone

   

performance, which turns out to be an
ironic political statement that reveals
the reason for the convict’s enforced
emigration. The prologue includes the
line: “We left our country for our
country's good.”

The play within the play becomes
a metaphor for the prisoner’s gradual
climb out of despair and where they can
regain their dignity and humanity.

This production of Our Country's
Good will follow the original
performance concept with ‘doubling’,
(actors playing more than one role), and
also with women playing some of the
male roles.

Our Country's Good opens
November 18 at the Douglas College
Performing Arts Studio, and plays until
November 26. Tickets are $5 for
students and seniors, and $8 for the
general public.

inept Baldrick.

“We had three or four good actors,
who even looked like Rowan Atkinson,
but they were in their mid-twenties, and

other than soresceeceenee that wouldn’t
Rowan play #. have sold. It
E- dm. 0; 0: 'd just wouldn’t
Blackadder? busa: Svore
Those are pretty worked.”
big army boots to At this
fit: point in the
Well, those interview,
Docs are going something
to be occupied by : : strange
Paul Kloegman, happened.
wan cites |e cast of Blackadder, at the Simply
“trepidation” as Cultch from Nov 22 - Dec 3. looking at
his main hurdle Kloegman

in playing the master of sarcastic wit.
Originally, Kloegman was only
scheduled to direct. A massive search
was undertaken to find the perfect Mr.
B. What was the hardest thing to find?
“Maturity,” says coproducer Ray
Soden, who also happens to play the

doesn’t necessarily scream “Rowan!”
But, given this opening by his partner
Soden, he took this opportunity to show
off.

A slight change in his already dry
English accent, a sudden alteration of
mannerisms, and he unleashed a perfect

 

 

 

 

 

by Bert C. Ennah

modern, technological society.

 

Ever wondered what scientists wear under their
lab coats? Whether you have, haven't, or couldn't
care less, The Land, The Animals is for you.

Written by Blake Brooker, Animals is the story
of three scientists returned from the future to
investigate the death of a drowned man. Through this
quest, the piece manages to explore the "soul" of our

Brooker's work is controversial in the extreme
(His Ilsa, Queen of the Nazi Love Camp was banned
in Alberta for its sexual-political content.) and
always sparks discussion and interest.

Directed by Andrew Lithgow and starring Jeff
Larkin, Sarah Byrne, and Rob Perrault, Animals
is at Studio J from November 9 - December 3. Studio
Jis located at 152 West Hastings Street in Vancouver.

Trippy time travel tragicomedy

 

Mandrake Theatre Productions’ The Land, The
Animals is at Studio J (152 West Hastings Street)
from November 9 to December 3. Info 683-8000.

 

 

(L-R): Erin Beatty, Doron Bell, and TC Hodges are three of the Douglas

   

Theatre Students featured in the upcoming production of Our Country's

Good, which opens November 18.

adderism: “And besides, nobody else
has my impeccable timing.”

And then, just as fast as he came,
Rowan was gone...

Both men can’t stop raving about
the other cast members. (Quite frankly,
I think they’ re jealous...) Soden is right
when he says, “All the major
characters are spot on.”

This production is recreating three
episodes: “Beer” from /J//, and
“Corporal Punishment” and “Private
Plane” from Goes Forth. Seeing as
Blackadder is revered by millions, the
cast has little freedom within the
characters. Kloegman: “We’re not

Got cunning if you want it; Cultch to host Adder

Local comedy company about to go "over the top" with Atkinson's much-admired comedy

selling anything new here, we’re just
giving people a chance to see it live.”

With the rich, well-written
characters, however, the actors are still
loving every minute of it. According to
Soden, "we've done the show hundreds
of times, and yet, during any given
rehearsal, we're rolling on the floor
laughing. The material is still that fresh,
that funny."

Blackadder is at the Vancouver East
Cultural Centre from November 22 to
December 3. At press time, tickets were
still available for most nights. Call 254-
9578 for information.

ae

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